Abstract:

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in social communication and restrictive and repetitive behaviors. Anxiety or anxiety disorders are commonly believed to be one of the most common comorbidities in individuals with autism. The relationship between anxiety and autism is unclear. Anxiety in individuals with autism is associated with intolerance of uncertainty, the function and volume of amygdale, emotional regulation strategies and negative thoughts. Assessment instruments have been developed specifically for anxiety in autistic individuals; modified cognitive behavior therapy for the treatment of anxiety in individuals with autism has achieved good results. Future research should focus on exploring the cognition and neuro-mechanism of anxiety in individuals with autism, verifying the effectiveness of the specialized assessment measures, as well as studying the treatment effect of modern technologies, such as virtual reality, on the anxiety of individuals with autism.

Key words: autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, assessment, treatment